2008-03-05 23:44

Hand Evaluation - Bridge Books ( Patterns )

PITBULLS:

Decided to give my Bridge books to the EBC Library . I have not looked at these books since the 1960’s & early 1970’s when I was just learning the game. I am reviewing them now a mere 40 years later. Two books stand out for me . In 1967 , I bought a book by Kelsey called “Killing Defense at Bridge” & in 1972 , I bought Kelseys “More Killing Defense” . To say in a hobby “you are what you read” is an understatement.

For example here is some direct quotes from Kelseys first book. “The average defender operates in a fog of uncertainty. He makes elementary mistakes because his mind has not been trained to think along the proper lines. His blunders are mainly due to faulty logic , failure to count & draw simple inferences”.

“On ‘thinking in patterns’ , my job is to try & convince you that counting via patterns is very much worthwhile. If you get your priorities right & put translating information into patterns first , you will find that many of your other problems will resolve themselves.”

“Have you ever had the chastening experience of waking up in the middle of a hand to the realization you are defending solely by instinct , that you have neglected to apply patterns so have no clear idea what is going on ?”

“I suggest you practice counting suit distributions whenever you have a spare moment. If you have difficulty sleeping at night , instead of counting sheep , or creditors or master points , instead count suit distributions. It is best to do hand patterns out loud , but if your dear ones will sit on your head & send for the strait-jacket , you can do it mentally.”

“You should aim to reach a point where under the stimulus of the suit length , your brain will fire back with computer like precision the series .”

SUIT LENGTH 4 4-4-4-1 , 4-4-3-2 , 4-3-3-3

5 5-3-3-2 , 5-4-2-2 , 5-4-3-1 . 5-5-2-1

6 6-3-2-2 , 6-3-3-1 . 6-4-2-1 , 6-5-1-1

7 7-2-2-2 , 7-3-2-1 , 7-4-1-1

“ Doing this homework in advance is likely to pay big dividends at the Bridge table. There are many demands on your concentration when you are defending . You whole game will benefit if you make the process of counting as automatic as possible. “

Well Mr. Kelsey , I took your advice so I have played Bridge quite well during the ensuing 4 decades since I read your books . I , like you back then , still have the huge job of convincing others to do the same thing. It is a trade secret we are giving away & all experts apply patterns as an automatic reflex. This advice you gave is why they are experts at the game.

I highly recommend you reading these two books. This reading would have prevented 182 articles on hand patterns J.